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Cape Town – His rivalry with Francois Hougaard goes back to their school days in the Cape, but Dewaldt Duvenage is looking forward to the continuation thereof on the “big stage”.
And a duel with a Springbok star in a Currie Cup match between the Blue Bulls and Western Province is about as big a stage as any player can hope for.
“You have the challenge of proving yourself every week, particularly in the kind of match we are playing this weekend,” said Duvenage.
“Any player wants to do well in this kind of match because you will be noticed, especially against Francois at Loftus.”
It feels like just the other day that Hougaard pitched without rugby boots for his first training session with the WP senior side at their former Villagers training ground. He was only 18 then.
The Bulls, however, succeeded in luring him to Pretoria and he is the heir apparent for their No 9 jersey as well as that of the Springboks.
Duvenage represented WP at under-16 and under-18 level before heading to Boland, but was contracted by WP again in 2008.
He is less inclined to do the spectacular, but prides himself on good decision-making, crisp service and a solid kicking game.
While his rise has not been nearly as meteoric as that of Hougaard, he is highly-rated by his coaching staff and also appointed WP’s vice-captain this season.
Hougaard, Jano Vermaak and Ricky Januarie are likely to have the inside track to be in the Bok touring squad, but Duvenage is clear about his aspirations.
“I don’t want to show with just one game that I belong in the Bok squad. I try to do that in every Currie Cup game,” said Duvenage.
His form in WP’s last two games – against the Pumas and Griquas – was particularly good.
Duvenage was able to bring greater variation to his game behind WP’s dominant pack.
He is often criticised for not being a threat with the ball in hand, but brought that dimension to his game against Griquas.
But on Saturday it’s the Bulls at Loftus and Hougaard as opponent.
“The rivalry goes back to our high school days. I was at Paarl Gymnasium and Francois at Paul Roos,” said Duvenage.
“We’re actually friends and there is no ill feeling between us. He is playing very well this season.
“Francois is very good with the ball in hand, while my decision-making is possibly a little better.
“It’s easier for us both if our packs are going forward. It all starts with the forwards and from there you can work with the ball.”
The tactical kicking of the respective halfback pairings will also be important.
Here Duvenage and Willem de Waal will be measured against Hougaard and Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Province backline coach Robbie Fleck made the point this week that WP need to play in the right areas of the field.
Duvenage believes a win in Pretoria will be a psychological boost should WP and the Bulls meet again in the knockout phase.
“We may play one another again in the semifinal. A victory now will make it easier going forward,” he said.
“We now have the experience of last year’s semifinal and Super 14 final. We know what we have to do to put things right.”
Cape Town – His rivalry with Francois Hougaard goes back to their school days in the Cape, but Dewaldt Duvenage is looking forward to the continuation thereof on the “big stage”.
And a duel with a Springbok star in a Currie Cup match between the Blue Bulls and Western Province is about as big a stage as any player can hope for.
“You have the challenge of proving yourself every week, particularly in the kind of match we are playing this weekend,” said Duvenage.
“Any player wants to do well in this kind of match because you will be noticed, especially against Francois at Loftus.”
It feels like just the other day that Hougaard pitched without rugby boots for his first training session with the WP senior side at their former Villagers training ground. He was only 18 then.
The Bulls, however, succeeded in luring him to Pretoria and he is the heir apparent for their No 9 jersey as well as that of the Springboks.
Duvenage represented WP at under-16 and under-18 level before heading to Boland, but was contracted by WP again in 2008.
He is less inclined to do the spectacular, but prides himself on good decision-making, crisp service and a solid kicking game.
While his rise has not been nearly as meteoric as that of Hougaard, he is highly-rated by his coaching staff and also appointed WP’s vice-captain this season.
Hougaard, Jano Vermaak and Ricky Januarie are likely to have the inside track to be in the Bok touring squad, but Duvenage is clear about his aspirations.
“I don’t want to show with just one game that I belong in the Bok squad. I try to do that in every Currie Cup game,” said Duvenage.
His form in WP’s last two games – against the Pumas and Griquas – was particularly good.
Duvenage was able to bring greater variation to his game behind WP’s dominant pack.
He is often criticised for not being a threat with the ball in hand, but brought that dimension to his game against Griquas.
But on Saturday it’s the Bulls at Loftus and Hougaard as opponent.
“The rivalry goes back to our high school days. I was at Paarl Gymnasium and Francois at Paul Roos,” said Duvenage.
“We’re actually friends and there is no ill feeling between us. He is playing very well this season.
“Francois is very good with the ball in hand, while my decision-making is possibly a little better.
“It’s easier for us both if our packs are going forward. It all starts with the forwards and from there you can work with the ball.”
The tactical kicking of the respective halfback pairings will also be important.
Here Duvenage and Willem de Waal will be measured against Hougaard and Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Province backline coach Robbie Fleck made the point this week that WP need to play in the right areas of the field.
Duvenage believes a win in Pretoria will be a psychological boost should WP and the Bulls meet again in the knockout phase.
“We may play one another again in the semifinal. A victory now will make it easier going forward,” he said.
“We now have the experience of last year’s semifinal and Super 14 final. We know what we have to do to put things right.”
